Steel Magnolias- The Lifetime Movie

[PM_Mama00]

Does anyone plan to watch the new Steel Magnolias?

I don't think I will. The original is based on a real woman's life (Phi Mu sister Susan Harling Robinson), so I don't understand how they can rewrite that. I'm curious how her brother feels about the story being redone.

ETA: I just read an article that said Robert Harling was happy with it. I just don't get it though. Some of these old movies are so good, perfect, classic..... why touch them?

[BabyPiNK_FL]

I don't think that it's "re-written" -all the original characters are there. The only difference that I can observe is that it's an all black cast. Many movies are becoming re-made and it appears to be (can't say for certain) that it's a pet project of Queen Latifah. So why wouldn't Lifetime jump on board? There's money to be made. People love the original movie and also love many of the actresses featured in this remake. Anything that gets Phylicia Rashad on my tv is a GOOD thing.

Does everything need to be remade? No. We all know Hollywood is taking things to their limits lately. But I think this will have a nice modern feel to it. The point is sisterhood in the face of tragedy and I don't think that will be lost. As a black Phi Mu I'm looking forward to a mixing of my "two cultures". I just hope they do it justice.

[amIblue?]

I want to see it. From the previews it looks to be well done and true to the original script.

[AnchorAlumna]

The cast is fabulous. I can't wait to see it!

[PM_Mama00]

Originally Posted by amIblue?

I want to see it. From the previews it looks to be well done and true to the original script.

From what I've heard it's word for word but not sure.

Queen Latifah is one of my faves, but I still don't think it should've been remade.... black, white, or Asian cast. You just don't touch something like this.

[amIblue?]

Originally Posted by PM_Mama00

Queen Latifah is one of my faves, but I still don't think it should've been remade.... black, white, or Asian cast. You just don't touch something like this.

Overdramatic much? It's a movie, not the Bible.

[WregleXO]

Well they filmed it in my neighbor - the house where the wedding reception takes place is a street over and on my running route (ran by on the last day of filming for that scene). So I want to see just because of that.

[33girl]

I couldn't tell from the previews, but it seemed like...is Queen Latifah playing Shelby???? She's a little long in the tooth for that particular part.

[chi-o_cat]

I want to see it. I love Queen Latifah!

[Kevin]

I can't wait for the next remake... Steel Magnolias--3D.

[PM_Mama00]

Originally Posted by amIblue?

Overdramatic much? It's a movie, not the Bible.

Because it's based on a sorority sister's life. I don't understand how you change a true story.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by 33girl

I couldn't tell from the previews, but it seemed like...is Queen Latifah playing Shelby???? She's a little long in the tooth for that particular part.

No, she's playing M'Lynn, Shelby's mother.

Originally Posted by PM_Mama00

Because it's based on a sorority sister's life. I don't understand how you change a true story.

I don't think it's really accurate to call it a "true story." It is a fictionalized story based -- sometimes more loosely, sometimes less so -- on the death and humor-filled approach to life of the playwright's sister and on the women who surrounded her. Harling didn't write the play as a reenactment of his sister's life and death. Like any good play, it's bigger than that.

And fwiw, according to the New York Times, the all-black cast was Harling's idea.

[amIblue?]

Originally Posted by PM_Mama00

Because it's based on a sorority sister's life. I don't understand how you change a true story.

Based on =\= factual account.

Originally Posted by MysticCat

No, she's playing M'Lynn, Shelby's mother.

I don't think it's really accurate to call it a "true story." It is a fictionalized story based -- sometimes more loosely, sometimes less so -- on the death and humor-filled approach to life of the playwright's sister and on the women who surrounded her. Harling didn't write the play as a reenactment of his sister's life and death. Like any good play, it's bigger than that.

And fwiw, according to the New York Times, the all-black cast was Harling's idea.

You always say things so well, MC.

[honeychile]

While I'll most probably watch it, I am SO SICK of Hollyweird remaking movies! One of my favorite old movies is The Women. A couple of years ago, it was remade. I honestly don't know anyone who saw it but me. Which would be a good thing, because it was awful.

I think that, so many times, we have expectations from the first movie, that we can never really get into the remake.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by honeychile

While I'll most probably watch it, I am SO SICK of Hollyweird remaking movies! One of my favorite old movies is The Women. A couple of years ago, it was remade. I honestly don't know anyone who saw it but me. Which would be a good thing, because it was awful.

I think that, so many times, we have expectations from the first movie, that we can never really get into the remake.

I tend to agree about remakes of movies, but I think it bears remembering that Steel Magnolias is first and foremost a stage play, which has been staged many, many times with all kinds of casts. The movie was an adaption of the play, and it included numerous characters (including every male character) never seen in the play. I don't know whether the new adaption follows the first movie in that regard or not. But it seems to me that in cases like this, a new movie is not so much a remake of the earlier movie as it is a new adaption of the stage play.